Feb 21, 2026 —
A federal jury found a man guilty of smuggling marijuana into the U.S. through the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation.
Prosecutors say 32-year-old Wenjian Zhuo attempted to transport 207 pounds of marijuana back to New York City after picking it up in Akwesasne.
Border Patrol pulled Zhuo over and seized the marijuana loaded in his van.
“For far too long, criminal networks have exploited the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation as a gateway for smuggling illegal drugs into our country. We will not tolerate anyone using this border region as a safe haven for trafficking,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone in a statement.
Zhuo faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.